Re: "Cannot find GRLDR in all devices" error using UNetbootin

Ok, after baby-sitting the installation for hours and all appeared to be going well...

Until, at the end, got this error saying didn't know where to install GRUB - No options semed to be acceptable or workable so selected 'finish installation'.

Laptop now bricked - 'Cannot find OS' or something and no way (as yet, anyway) of booting into machine.

I'm not complaining (I knew the risks) but, Jeez, this whole *ix stuff has a long way to go (someday, I'm sure it will get there).

I speak as a developer of long standing (MS/SQL Server/Oracle) so I'm not technically inept but this has been a dispiriting experience.

Anyway, anyone got any ideas as to how I might be able to resusicate apparently dead laptop (bearing in mind CD is kaput)?

Thanks

Whoa, that doesn't sound good, seems like the GRUB configuration is screwed up (I suspect it has something to do with the awkward partition layout confusing GRUB), anyhow just re-install GRUB using the Super Grub Disk; see http://supergrub.forjamari.linex.org/?section=download for downloads; use either the floppy version or the USB flash drive version (you'll need access to another computer to write the image to a floppy or flash drive), then just change the boot order to boot from floppy/USB drive, then use the "repair GRUB" option on the Super Grub Disk (details at http://supergrub.forjamari.linex.org...=documentation ) and it should work then

Re: "Cannot find GRLDR in all devices" error using UNetbootin

Originally Posted by tuxcantfly

Whoa, that doesn't sound good, seems like the GRUB configuration is screwed up (I suspect it has something to do with the awkward partition layout confusing GRUB), anyhow just re-install GRUB using the Super Grub Disk; see http://supergrub.forjamari.linex.org/?section=download for downloads; use either the floppy version or the USB flash drive version (you'll need access to another computer to write the image to a floppy or flash drive), then just change the boot order to boot from floppy/USB drive, then use the "repair GRUB" option on the Super Grub Disk (details at http://supergrub.forjamari.linex.org...=documentation ) and it should work then

I bricked a box, too... here's how I unbricked

Box is a P-4 HP e-PC that will not boot from CR-ROM and it doesn't have a floppy drive. Basically, a P4 laptop in a tiny desktop case. I tried all the stuff with loaders, smb this, and all that. Nope. Tried the USB boot that I *have* had work on some Dells we have. Nope. Ended up bricking it with "No OS" like above.

New to install ubuntu box is mentioned above. The "PXE host" from which all commands below I just coped is a Dell C521 AMD Athlon on the same simple "home network" running kubuntu gutsy amd64. Network is hanging off of one of the high speed 4 port wireless routers (with DHCP running on it!). My net is 192.168.2.x, with netmask 255.255.255.0. I formerly made the wireless router assign DHCP from 192.168.2.100 to 192.168.2.120. And I have some static IP's hanging out in the 192.168.2.40~192.168.2.59 range, so you see I set the DHCP range away from potential conflicts. Router is on 192.168.2.1

# Did reboot and it immediately started into the installer!! But then
# it tried to configure network off of my temporary dhcp server, so I
# had to select <Go Back> a bunch of times until I go the retry Auto Network
# configure option...

# and now the installer configured via normal dhcp server and all started
# well.
#
# if you get the freeze after the task select stage of the install, go away
# and come back in an hour. Seems that's what it might take.
# https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...onf/+bug/62986
#
# Now to make it so this "server" doesn't start serving dhcp and tftp
# at reboot by removing the init.d start up scripts. I didn't apt-get remove
# because I assumed it wouldn't work and I'd need to do it again...

Re: Howto: Install Ubuntu without a CD

oh, yeah, the e-pc was running windows 2000, which seemed particularly resistant to my efforts of installing a boot loader. I tried grub4dos and some other one, too, that claimed to be able to boot to HD then load CD. It couldn't install over grub. All that muckering about took twice as long as the PXE install did tonight. Of course, it didn't help having to boot to win2k all those times!!

Re: I bricked a box, too... here's how I unbricked

Originally Posted by cacycleworks

# Now to make it so this "server" doesn't start serving dhcp and tftp
# at reboot by removing the init.d start up scripts. I didn't apt-get remove
# because I assumed it wouldn't work and I'd need to do it again...

Nice guide indeed! A life saver.
Let me just tell you there's an easier way to remove init scripts.
All you need is to get into /etc/init.d/ and see what is the exact name of the service you want to disable at boot.
Then you use update-rc.d program (it adds or remove init scripts to the different run levels)
For example, to remove the dhcp server you need something like this:

Code:

update-rc.d dhcp3-server remove

Simple, isn't it?
Read the update-rc.d help for more options on how to use
Cheers,
Ziv

Re: "Cannot find GRLDR in all devices" error using UNetbootin

Originally Posted by tuxcantfly

Whoa, that doesn't sound good, seems like the GRUB configuration is screwed up (I suspect it has something to do with the awkward partition layout confusing GRUB), anyhow just re-install GRUB using the Super Grub Disk; see http://supergrub.forjamari.linex.org/?section=download for downloads; use either the floppy version or the USB flash drive version (you'll need access to another computer to write the image to a floppy or flash drive), then just change the boot order to boot from floppy/USB drive, then use the "repair GRUB" option on the Super Grub Disk (details at http://supergrub.forjamari.linex.org...=documentation ) and it should work then

Ok, here's what eventually worked for me...

Bear in mind that my starting position was a laptop with unreliable CD drive, working floppy drive and a network connection.

Re: Howto: Install Ubuntu without a CD

Thanks for adding CentOS 5.1 in!!!! Ubuntu based Linux may be known well here, CentOS rules the SMB and Corporate sectors I work in because it IS Red Hat MINUS the logos. Same exact RPMS, built from same RPMS, etc - just logos changed. It is very nice also. I basically use it because it IS what pays the bills - Microsoft and Red Hat contract work I do pays the bills

Tuxcantfly - excellent work and options you have provided the community with your useful tool. Any possibility is having a freedos version or even DOS (for machines with no OS) - I know "noone" may be using DOS/FreeDOS anymore, but what if someone does not want to install Debian (due to the longer more elaboarate install process) just so they can install UNETBOOTIN. With DOS based install - it just format /s on the C: drive. And then just copy a DOS/FreeDOS version of UNETBOOTIN over the C: drive and execute, reboot, and voila (so much faster than Debian install)...to your chosen Liunux distro ready for installation...just an idea. Better yet, an option to install/execute from a Linux based LiveCD - that would be even better. Thanks again!